Troops of the Northeast Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have repelled an attack by suspected Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists on Mairari community in Borno State, but lost two soldiers and a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) during the operation.

The military said the three security personnel were killed in a fierce gun battle with the insurgents in the late hours of Wednesday.

In a statement issued in Maiduguri, the Acting Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, said the attack occurred at about 11:25 p.m. on July 1 at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mairari.

According to him, troops at the base engaged the attackers in a prolonged firefight, forcing them to retreat after recovering several weapons and military items from the scene.

He added that post-operation surveillance indicated the fleeing insurgents evacuated some of their dead and wounded, although the military said it could not independently verify the casualty figures.

“The attack came only weeks after more than 950 households reportedly returned to Mairari under an ongoing resettlement programme aimed at restoring normal life in communities previously displaced by insurgency,” Goni said.

The military noted that no civilian casualties were recorded during the attack, despite what it described as an attempt by the insurgents to disrupt the resettlement programme and intimidate returning residents.

While mourning the fallen personnel, the Theatre Command extended its condolences to their families.

“The Theatre Command mourns these gallant heroes and extends its heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones,” the statement said.

The military also disclosed that some equipment was damaged by rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fire during the encounter.

In a related operation, a reinforcement team from Monguno detected and safely detonated two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted along an access route before engaging the fleeing terrorists.

Operation Hadin Kai reiterated its commitment to sustaining offensive operations against insurgent groups across the North-East while supporting the gradual resettlement of communities affected by years of insurgency.

The military said the successful defence of Mairari underscores the operational readiness of troops deployed in the region and their determination to deny terrorists freedom of action